Tuesday: Afternoon Prayer

ABOUT TODAY

We are currently in the Epiphany season; the time between Christmas and Lent.Epiphany celebrates the long awaited manifestation of Christ; no longer as a baby in a manger but as the Saviour of the World. The Epiphany season continues right through until the beginning of Lent and the gospel readings follow Jesus’ early ministry. The afternoon readings continue a chronological tour through the scriptures; whilst the readings at Compline continue to work their way through Paul’s letter to the Romans.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
God, come to my assistance.All:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

AFTERNOON PSALM

Psalm 16

The Hope of the Faithful, and the Messiah’s Victory

A Michtam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

O my soul, you have said to the Lord,“You are my Lord,My goodness is nothing apart from You.”As for the saints who are on the earth,“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,Nor take up their names on my lips.

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;You maintain my lot.The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.I have set the Lord always before me;Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;My flesh also will rest in hope.For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP (Optional)

All:
(A short time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Jonah 2:1-10

Jonah’s Prayer

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,and he answered me;out of the belly of Sheol I cried,and you heard my voice.For you cast me into the deep,into the heart of the seas,and the flood surrounded me;all your waves and your billowspassed over me.Then I said, ‘I am driven awayfrom your sight;yet I shall again lookupon your holy temple.’The waters closed in over me to take my life;the deep surrounded me;weeds were wrapped about my headat the roots of the mountains.I went down to the landwhose bars closed upon me for ever;yet you brought up my life from the pit,O Lord my God.When my life was fainting away,I remembered the Lord,and my prayer came to you,into your holy temple.Those who pay regard to vain idolsforsake their hope of steadfast love.But I with the voice of thanksgivingwill sacrifice to you;what I have vowed I will pay.Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection……

PRAYER

(Take a moment to bring to God any issues that have arisen during the morning. You may like to end with the following prayer…)

Reader:

Lord Jesus, you worked with your hands as a carpenter.
May we who labour upon the earth never cease to give you praise,
And know your loving presence with us.
We ask this for your glory. Amen

(I

GRACE (Optional)

(If these prayers are taking place before food, you may like to say the Grace here instead.)

Lord God, we thank you for your gift to us of this food;
Produce of earth, sky, many living beings, and much hard work.

May we eat with prayerfulness, gratitude and moderation;
With renewed minds and spirit-controlled appetites.

May we eat with compassion for those who hunger today,
And in such a way that reduces the suffering of all creatures;
Healing and preserving our precious planet.

Use this food to strengthen our bodies, revive our spirits,
Nurture our family and nourish our resolve;
That we may continue to serve all that lives with all our life. Amen